WO2000057253A1 - Manufacture of hollow metallic articles - Google Patents

Manufacture of hollow metallic articles Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2000057253A1
WO2000057253A1 PCT/ZA2000/000050 ZA0000050W WO0057253A1 WO 2000057253 A1 WO2000057253 A1 WO 2000057253A1 ZA 0000050 W ZA0000050 W ZA 0000050W WO 0057253 A1 WO0057253 A1 WO 0057253A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
shell
metallic article
hollow metallic
hollow
forming tools
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/ZA2000/000050
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Anthony John Bond
Original Assignee
Laser Optronic Technologies (Proprietary) Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Laser Optronic Technologies (Proprietary) Limited filed Critical Laser Optronic Technologies (Proprietary) Limited
Priority to AU37757/00A priority Critical patent/AU3775700A/en
Publication of WO2000057253A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000057253A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
    • G05B19/00—Programme-control systems
    • G05B19/02—Programme-control systems electric
    • G05B19/418—Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS], computer integrated manufacturing [CIM]
    • G05B19/41865—Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS], computer integrated manufacturing [CIM] characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B33—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
    • B33Y—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3-D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3-D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
    • B33Y50/00—Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
    • G05B19/00—Programme-control systems
    • G05B19/02—Programme-control systems electric
    • G05B19/18—Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of programme data in numerical form
    • G05B19/4097—Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of programme data in numerical form characterised by using design data to control NC machines, e.g. CAD/CAM
    • G05B19/4099—Surface or curve machining, making 3D objects, e.g. desktop manufacturing
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P90/00—Enabling technologies with a potential contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation
    • Y02P90/02—Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the manufacture of hollow metallic articles and, more specifically, but not exclusively, to the manufacture of hollow jewellery pieces.
  • the invention relates to a system and to a method for the manufacture of hollow metallic articles and to a hollow metallic article manufactured in accordance with such a method.
  • Hollow jewellery has, to date, been manufactured by a complex process which includes an electroforming or electrodeposition step.
  • a prototype model of a desired item of hollow jewellery is handcrafted as a silver piece.
  • Silver is generally chosen for this purpose due to its malleability, which renders it easy to work.
  • Vulcanised rubber is cast around the silver prototype model and carefully separated to liberate the prototype, thus providing a vulcanised rubber mould of the desired jewellery item. Wax is then injected into the vulcanised rubber mould to produce a wax pattern corresponding to the silver prototype model. It is customary to have a metallic wire projecting from the wax for reasons which will become apparent below.
  • the wax pattern is then metallized by dipping it in a silver solution and is thereafter immersed in an electroforming bath containing a gold potassium cyanide solution.
  • An electrical current is then applied between the metallized wax pattern and an anode electrode immersed in the electroforming bath, to cause electrodeposition of gold on the surface of the wax pattern.
  • the rate at which gold is electrodeposited is dependent on the surface area of the pattern and the concentration of gold potassium cyanide in solution.
  • a method for the manufacture of a hollow metallic article which includes the step of rapid-prototyping at least one three-dimensional pattern derived from a Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) model of the hollow metallic article to be manufactured.
  • CAD Computer-Aided-Design
  • the method to include the steps of: rapid-prototyping a three-dimensional pattern of the entire hollow metallic article from the CAD model; metallizing at least a portion of the surface of the three-dimensional pattern; and electrodepositing a layer of metal on the surface of the three-dimensional pattern to form the shell of the hollow metallic article, the shell being discontinuous over any non-metallized portion of the pattern to form an aperture in the shell.
  • Further features of the invention provide for not metallizing a plurality of separate portions of the surface of the three-dimensional pattern and electrodepositing the layer of metal to form the shell of the hollow metallic article having a plurality of several apertures in the shell, each aperture corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of separate non-metallized portions of the surface of the pattern, alternatively metallizing the entire surface of the three-dimensional pattern and electrodepositing the layer of metal to form a closed shell.
  • Still further features of the invention provide for the method to include the further step of removing the three-dimensional pattern from the shell of the hollow metallic article, for removing the three-dimensional pattern by acid leaching, alternatively by the steps of comminuting the pattern into a particulate form, and emptying the particulate matter through the aperture in the shell of the hollow jewellery article, alternatively through a hole drilled into the shell of the closed hollow metallic article.
  • Yet further features of the invention provide for comminuting the three-dimensional pattern to a particulate form by any one or more of heating the pattern or subjecting it to ultrasonic frequencies,.
  • the method to include the steps of: deriving, from the CAD model, a number of component parts from which the hollow metallic article is to be assembled; designing forming tools for forming each of the component parts and generating
  • CAD models of the forming tools rapid-prototyping three-dimensional patterns of the forming tools from the CAD models thereof; producing moulds of the forming tools from the three-dimensional patterns thereof, and casting the forming tools from the moulds; forming the component parts of the hollow metallic article by utilising the forming tools; and assembling the formed component parts together to form the shell of the hollow metallic article.
  • Further features of the invention provide for producing moulds of the forming tools by the steps of: investment-casting a shell of ceramic material around the three-dimensional patterns of the forming tools; removing the three-dimensional patterns from the investment-cast ceramic shells, and for removing the three-dimensional patterns from the investment-cast ceramic shells by: comminuting the patterns to a particulate form; and emptying the particulate matter through an aperture in each of the investment-cast ceramic shells.
  • Still further features of the invention provide for casting the forming tools by the steps of: pre-heating the investment-cast ceramic moulds; casting molten metal therein; removing the ceramic moulds from the castings; and fettling the castings.
  • Yet further features of the invention provide for assembling the formed component parts together to form the shell of the hollow metallic article, by the steps of: placing the formed component parts in a jig; and welding the interfaces between the component parts, for welding the interfaces between the component parts by means of a multi-axis laser welding system, and for controlling the position and orientation of the jig relative to the welding laser by means of data derived from the CAD model of the hollow metallic article.
  • method to include the further step of predicting the forming tool performance, and the still further step of optimising the design of the forming tools to eliminate faults in the forming tools, and for predicting the forming tool performance as a function of at least the characteristics of the metal to be formed and boundary and load conditions to be applied by the forming tools.
  • the hollow metallic article to be a hollow jewellery piece, for sizing the at least one aperture in the shell of the hollow jewellery piece to receive a gemstone therein, for rapid-prototyping a three-dimensional pattern from the CAD model thereof by any one of the techniques of stereo lithography, fused deposition modelling, laminated object manufacturing, selective laser sintering, ink jet or other rapid prototyping systems.
  • the invention extends to a system for the manufacture of hollow metallic articles, which includes: means for producing a CAD model of the hollow metal article to be manufactured; and a rapid-prototyping facility arranged to produce at least one three-dimensional pattern derived from the CAD model.
  • the system to include: metallizing means for metallizing at least a portion of the surface of the three-dimensional pattern; and an electrodeposition facility for electrodepositing a layer of metal on the surface of the three-dimensional pattern to form the shell of the hollow metallic article, the shell being discontinuous over any non-metallized portion of the pattern to form an aperture in the shell.
  • the metallizing means to not metallize a plurality of separate portions of the surface of the three-dimensional pattern and for the electrodeposition facility to electrodeposit the layer of metal to form the shell of the hollow metallic article having a plurality of separate apertures in the shell, each aperture corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of separate non-metallized portions on the surface of the pattern, alternatively for the metallizing means to metallize the entire surface of the three-dimensional pattern and for the electrodeposition facility to electrodeposit the layer of metal to form a closed shell.
  • the system to include a removal facility for removing the three-dimensional pattern from the shell of the hollow metallic article, for the removal facility to include means for acid-leaching the three-dimensional pattern, alternatively means for comminuting the pattern to a particulate form, for the particulate matter to be dischargeable through the at least one aperture in the shell of the hollow metallic article, alternatively through a hole drilled into the shell of the closed hollow metallic article, and for the means for comminuting the pattern to be a heating furnace or an ultrasonic frequency generator.
  • the system to include: a design facility arranged to derive from the CAD model of the hollow metallic article, a number of component parts from which the hollow metallic article is to be assembled, to design forming tools for forming each of the component parts and to generate CAD models of the forming tools; mould production means for producing moulds of the forming tools from three-dimensional patterns thereof and for casting the forming tools from the moulds, the three-dimensional patterns of the moulds being produced by the rapid-prototyping facility from the CAD models thereof; forming means for forming the component parts of the hollow metallic article by utilising the forming tools; and an assembly facility for assembling the formed component parts together to produce the hollow jewellery piece.
  • the mould production means to include an investment casting facility for investment-casting a shell of ceramic material around the three-dimensional patterns of the forming tools, and a removal facility for removing the three-dimensional patterns from the investment-cast ceramic shells, for the removal facility to include means for comminuting the three-dimensional patterns to a particulate form, and for the particulate matter to be dischargeable through an aperture in each of the investment-cast ceramic shells.
  • Still further features of the invention provide for the assembly facility to include a jig for holding the formed component parts together in a correct configuration to form the hollow metallic article, and a multi-axis laser welding system for welding the interfaces between the formed component parts in the jig, and for the position and orientation of the jig relative to the welding laser to be controlled by means of data derived from the CAD model of the hollow metallic article.
  • the forming means to be a stamping press, for the forming tools to be corresponding punches and cavities, and for the assembled hollow metallic article to have at least one aperture communicating with the interior thereof.
  • the design facility to predict the performance of the designed forming tools to optimize the design of the forming tools as a function of at least the characteristics of the metal to be formed and boundary and load conditions to be applied by the forming tools.
  • the hollow metallic article to be a hollow jewellery piece, for the at least one aperture in the shell of the hollow jewellery piece to be sized to receive a gemstone therein, for the rapid-prototyping facility to produce a three-dimensional pattern of the hollow metallic article from the CAD model by any one of the techniques of stereo lithography, fused deposition modelling, laminated object manufacturing, selective laser sintering, ink jet or other rapid prototyping techniques.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a system for the manufacture of hollow metallic articles, according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a functional representation of a first embodiment of a rapid prototyping facility and a production facility of the system of Figure 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 is a functional representation of a second embodiment of a rapid prototyping facility and a production facility of the system of Figure 1.
  • the system (1) includes a rapid prototyping facility (2) and a production facility (3) which, in turn, includes a CAD processor (7) and a Stereo Lithography (SL) machine (8).
  • a rapid prototyping facility (2) and a production facility (3) which, in turn, includes a CAD processor (7) and a Stereo Lithography (SL) machine (8).
  • a CAD processor (7) and a Stereo Lithography (SL) machine (8).
  • SL Stereo Lithography
  • the rapid prototyping facility (2) and its operation is well known in the art but will be described here for completeness.
  • the CAD processor (7) is operable to produce data relating to a three-dimensional model of an item of hollow jewellery which is to be manufactured.
  • the three-dimensional CAD model is converted through a translation facility (not shown) into a file format which can be recognised by the SL machine (8).
  • An example of such a file format is the well known .STL format developed by the Albert Consulting Group.
  • the .STL file consists of sets of x, y and z co-ordinates, each set representing a triangular facet on the surface of the three-dimensional CAD model.
  • the three-dimensional CAD model is "sliced” into layers by “slice” software (9) to produce program steps which guide the SL machine (8) in producing a three-dimensional pattern (11) of the hollow jewellery piece.
  • the SL Machine (8) has a laser which generates an ultraviolet beam, and a vat equipped with an elevator table.
  • the vat is filled with a photopolymerisable liquid resin.
  • the laser is directed over the surface of the resin to solidify a two-dimensional cross-section on the surface of the photopolymer corresponding to the first
  • the production facility (3) includes an electroforming bath (10), which is well known in the art.
  • the three-dimensional pattern (11) is then metallized in a metallizing means (not shown) by spraying it with a conductive spray, and the metallized three-dimensional pattern is then secured to a support structure (12) also known as a "tree" and immersed in the electroforming bath (10) which is filled with a solution of gold potassium cyanide.
  • An electrical supply voltage V is then applied between the tree (12) and a cathode (13) immersed in the solution in the electroforming bath, causing gold to be deposited on the surface of the metallized three-dimensional pattern (11) to form a shell of the hollow jewellery piece.
  • the electrodeposition is continued until a sufficiently thick layer of gold has been deposited on the surface of the three-dimensional pattern (11) to suit the requirements of a particular application.
  • the coated three-dimensional pattern (11) is removed from the electroforming bath (10) and detached from the tree (12).
  • the solidified photopolymer in the interior of the coated three-dimensional pattern may be left in place or removed. Removal of the photopolymer is attained by heating the coated pattern to cause the solidified photopolymer in the interior of the electrodeposited gold layer to be converted to gas and ash.
  • the gas and ash may be removed through a hole drilled into the hollow jewellery piece. Alternatively, the hole may be created by not metallizing a small portion of the three-dimensional pattern (11), thereby preventing electrodeposition from occurring on the non-metallized portion to create an aperture on the shell during the electrodeposition process, for the removal of the gas and ash.
  • the final step in the production process is a finishing operation in which the hole in the hollow jewellery piece is closed off by hand, if required.
  • multiple apertures can be created in the hollow jewellery piece by not metallizing an equal number of portions on the three-dimensional pattern (11) to prevent electrodeposition from occurring on these non-metallized portions. It is envisaged that in certain applications, comminution of the three-dimensional pattern by heating will not be feasible as the required temperature will be close to, or will exceed, the melting point of the electrodeposited metal. In such instances, the three-dimensional pattern may be comminuted by exposure to ultrasonic frequencies, or may be dissolved by acid leaching.
  • the three-dimensional pattern can be rapid-prototyped by the techniques of Fused Deposition Modelling, Laminated Object Manufacturing, Selective Laser Sintering, or other rapid prototyping systems as alternatives to Stereo Lithography.
  • the production facility includes an electroforming bath (3), an investment casting facility (14), a flash fire furnace (15) and a laser welding system (17).
  • the CAD processor (7) produces data relating to the three-dimensional model of the item of hollow jewellery which is to be produced and derives therefrom three-dimensional CAD models of sets of matching cavities and punches for stamping out component parts of the hollow jewellery item. It will be appreciated that the number of component parts of the hollow jewellery item is dependent on the complexity of its design.
  • the CAD processor (7) also performs an analysis of the matching cavities and punches to predict their theoretical performance.
  • the predicted performance of the matching cavities and punches is a function of the characteristics of the metal to be stamped, as well as the boundary and load conditions to be applied to the cavities and punches.
  • the design of the matching cavities and punches is then optimised to eliminate any faults indicated by the performance analysis.
  • Patterns of the matching punches and cavities are produced by the SL machine
  • the patterns of the matching punches and cavities are attached to a tree and "shelled up" in the investment casting facility (14) in which a shell of ceramic refractory material is deposited around the patterns to produce ceramic moulds of the punches and cavities.
  • This process of investment casting is well known in the art and will not be described here in detail.
  • the patterns of the matching punches and cavities are removed from the ceramic moulds in a manner analogous to that described in the embodiment of Figure 2, by heating the investment cast moulds in the flash fire furnace. The gas and ash arising from the heating of the photopolymer of the patterns are removed via a funnel on each ceramic mould.
  • the ceramic moulds are then preheated and molten metal is cast therein to produce castings of the matching punches and cavities.
  • the ceramic shells are then removed from the castings, which are finished off by a fettling operation to remove any gates and runners which may be present.
  • the matching punches and cavities are then employed in a stamping machine to stamp the component parts of the hollow jewellery piece to be produced.
  • the stamped component parts are placed in a jig to hold the parts together in the correct configuration to form the item of hollow jewellery.
  • the jig is them brought into position under the laser of the laser welding system.
  • Data is downloaded from the CAD processor (7) to the laser welding system relating to the surface topography of the three-dimensional model of the item of hollow jewellery. This data is applied to control the position and orientation of the jig to enable the laser to weld together the component parts of the hollow jewellery item.
  • Figure 2 is preferred for the manufacture of single jewellery pieces or applications in which low production runs are required, whilst the system described with reference to Figure 3 is preferred for high-volume jewellery production runs due to the additional steps required to produced matching punches and cavities for stamping the component parts of a jewellery piece.
  • the invention has been described with reference to the manufacture of hollow jewellery pieces, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is applicable to the manufacture of other hollow metallic articles.
  • the invention therefore provides a system and a method for manufacturing hollow metallic articles, such as hollow jewellery pieces, which reduces the number of design steps and iterations employed in prior art equivalents, and which facilitates the mass-customization of hollow jewellery pieces.

Abstract

A system for the manufacture of hollow metallic articles includes means for producing a CAD model of the hollow metal article to be manufactured, and a rapid-prototyping facility arranged to produce at least one three-dimensional pattern derived from the CAD model. The system also includes metallizing means for metallizing at least a portion of the surface of the three-dimensional pattern produced by the rapid-prototyping facility, and an electrodeposition facility for electrodepositing a layer of metal on the surface of the metallized three-dimensional pattern to form the shell of the hollow metallic article, the shell being discontinuous over any non-metallized portion of the pattern to form an aperture in the shell.

Description

ANUFACTURE OF HOLLOW METALLIC ARTICLES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the manufacture of hollow metallic articles and, more specifically, but not exclusively, to the manufacture of hollow jewellery pieces. The invention relates to a system and to a method for the manufacture of hollow metallic articles and to a hollow metallic article manufactured in accordance with such a method.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Although this invention will be described with particular reference to the manufacture of hollow jewellery pieces, it is to be clearly understood that the application of the invention is not limited to this particular application.
Hollow jewellery has, to date, been manufactured by a complex process which includes an electroforming or electrodeposition step.
Typically, a prototype model of a desired item of hollow jewellery is handcrafted as a silver piece. Silver is generally chosen for this purpose due to its malleability, which renders it easy to work. Vulcanised rubber is cast around the silver prototype model and carefully separated to liberate the prototype, thus providing a vulcanised rubber mould of the desired jewellery item. Wax is then injected into the vulcanised rubber mould to produce a wax pattern corresponding to the silver prototype model. It is customary to have a metallic wire projecting from the wax for reasons which will become apparent below.
The wax pattern is then metallized by dipping it in a silver solution and is thereafter immersed in an electroforming bath containing a gold potassium cyanide solution.
An electrical current is then applied between the metallized wax pattern and an anode electrode immersed in the electroforming bath, to cause electrodeposition of gold on the surface of the wax pattern. The rate at which gold is electrodeposited is dependent on the surface area of the pattern and the concentration of gold potassium cyanide in solution.
Once a sufficiently thick layer of gold has been deposited on the wax pattern, it is then removed from the electroforming bath. The metallic wire is removed, whereupon the workpiece is heated causing the wax of the mould to melt and to pour out through the aperture left by the metallic wire. The jewellery workpiece is then finished, typically by closing off the aperture through which the molten wax was removed.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this method of jewellery production is tedious and time consuming and requires a considerable lead-time to bring a new jewellery design to market, due to the necessity of first producing a prototype model of the new item of jewellery, and thereafter making a rubber mould therefrom in order to produce a wax pattern. Furthermore, this prior art method is only cost effective for large production volumes, and significantly increases the cost of manufacturing unique items of hollow jewellery.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention there is provided a method for the manufacture of a hollow metallic article which includes the step of rapid-prototyping at least one three-dimensional pattern derived from a Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) model of the hollow metallic article to be manufactured.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided for the method to include the steps of: rapid-prototyping a three-dimensional pattern of the entire hollow metallic article from the CAD model; metallizing at least a portion of the surface of the three-dimensional pattern; and electrodepositing a layer of metal on the surface of the three-dimensional pattern to form the shell of the hollow metallic article, the shell being discontinuous over any non-metallized portion of the pattern to form an aperture in the shell.
Further features of the invention provide for not metallizing a plurality of separate portions of the surface of the three-dimensional pattern and electrodepositing the layer of metal to form the shell of the hollow metallic article having a plurality of several apertures in the shell, each aperture corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of separate non-metallized portions of the surface of the pattern, alternatively metallizing the entire surface of the three-dimensional pattern and electrodepositing the layer of metal to form a closed shell.
Still further features of the invention provide for the method to include the further step of removing the three-dimensional pattern from the shell of the hollow metallic article, for removing the three-dimensional pattern by acid leaching, alternatively by the steps of comminuting the pattern into a particulate form, and emptying the particulate matter through the aperture in the shell of the hollow jewellery article, alternatively through a hole drilled into the shell of the closed hollow metallic article.
Yet further features of the invention provide for comminuting the three-dimensional pattern to a particulate form by any one or more of heating the pattern or subjecting it to ultrasonic frequencies,.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided for the method to include the steps of: deriving, from the CAD model, a number of component parts from which the hollow metallic article is to be assembled; designing forming tools for forming each of the component parts and generating
CAD models of the forming tools; rapid-prototyping three-dimensional patterns of the forming tools from the CAD models thereof; producing moulds of the forming tools from the three-dimensional patterns thereof, and casting the forming tools from the moulds; forming the component parts of the hollow metallic article by utilising the forming tools; and assembling the formed component parts together to form the shell of the hollow metallic article.
Further features of the invention provide for producing moulds of the forming tools by the steps of: investment-casting a shell of ceramic material around the three-dimensional patterns of the forming tools; removing the three-dimensional patterns from the investment-cast ceramic shells, and for removing the three-dimensional patterns from the investment-cast ceramic shells by: comminuting the patterns to a particulate form; and emptying the particulate matter through an aperture in each of the investment-cast ceramic shells.
Still further features of the invention provide for casting the forming tools by the steps of: pre-heating the investment-cast ceramic moulds; casting molten metal therein; removing the ceramic moulds from the castings; and fettling the castings.
Yet further features of the invention provide for assembling the formed component parts together to form the shell of the hollow metallic article, by the steps of: placing the formed component parts in a jig; and welding the interfaces between the component parts, for welding the interfaces between the component parts by means of a multi-axis laser welding system, and for controlling the position and orientation of the jig relative to the welding laser by means of data derived from the CAD model of the hollow metallic article.
There is also provided for forming the component parts of the hollow metallic article by stamping, for forming the component parts by stamping with corresponding punches and cavities, for assembling the hollow metallic article to have at least one aperture communicating with the interior thereof.
There is further provided for method to include the further step of predicting the forming tool performance, and the still further step of optimising the design of the forming tools to eliminate faults in the forming tools, and for predicting the forming tool performance as a function of at least the characteristics of the metal to be formed and boundary and load conditions to be applied by the forming tools.
In accordance with a third aspect of the invention there is provided for the hollow metallic article to be a hollow jewellery piece, for sizing the at least one aperture in the shell of the hollow jewellery piece to receive a gemstone therein, for rapid-prototyping a three-dimensional pattern from the CAD model thereof by any one of the techniques of stereo lithography, fused deposition modelling, laminated object manufacturing, selective laser sintering, ink jet or other rapid prototyping systems.
The invention extends to a system for the manufacture of hollow metallic articles, which includes: means for producing a CAD model of the hollow metal article to be manufactured; and a rapid-prototyping facility arranged to produce at least one three-dimensional pattern derived from the CAD model.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided for the system to include: metallizing means for metallizing at least a portion of the surface of the three-dimensional pattern; and an electrodeposition facility for electrodepositing a layer of metal on the surface of the three-dimensional pattern to form the shell of the hollow metallic article, the shell being discontinuous over any non-metallized portion of the pattern to form an aperture in the shell.
Further features of the invention provide for the metallizing means to not metallize a plurality of separate portions of the surface of the three-dimensional pattern and for the electrodeposition facility to electrodeposit the layer of metal to form the shell of the hollow metallic article having a plurality of separate apertures in the shell, each aperture corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of separate non-metallized portions on the surface of the pattern, alternatively for the metallizing means to metallize the entire surface of the three-dimensional pattern and for the electrodeposition facility to electrodeposit the layer of metal to form a closed shell. till further features of the invention provide for the system to include a removal facility for removing the three-dimensional pattern from the shell of the hollow metallic article, for the removal facility to include means for acid-leaching the three-dimensional pattern, alternatively means for comminuting the pattern to a particulate form, for the particulate matter to be dischargeable through the at least one aperture in the shell of the hollow metallic article, alternatively through a hole drilled into the shell of the closed hollow metallic article, and for the means for comminuting the pattern to be a heating furnace or an ultrasonic frequency generator.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided for the system to include: a design facility arranged to derive from the CAD model of the hollow metallic article, a number of component parts from which the hollow metallic article is to be assembled, to design forming tools for forming each of the component parts and to generate CAD models of the forming tools; mould production means for producing moulds of the forming tools from three-dimensional patterns thereof and for casting the forming tools from the moulds, the three-dimensional patterns of the moulds being produced by the rapid-prototyping facility from the CAD models thereof; forming means for forming the component parts of the hollow metallic article by utilising the forming tools; and an assembly facility for assembling the formed component parts together to produce the hollow jewellery piece.
Further features of the invention provide for the mould production means to include an investment casting facility for investment-casting a shell of ceramic material around the three-dimensional patterns of the forming tools, and a removal facility for removing the three-dimensional patterns from the investment-cast ceramic shells, for the removal facility to include means for comminuting the three-dimensional patterns to a particulate form, and for the particulate matter to be dischargeable through an aperture in each of the investment-cast ceramic shells.
Still further features of the invention provide for the assembly facility to include a jig for holding the formed component parts together in a correct configuration to form the hollow metallic article, and a multi-axis laser welding system for welding the interfaces between the formed component parts in the jig, and for the position and orientation of the jig relative to the welding laser to be controlled by means of data derived from the CAD model of the hollow metallic article.
Yet further features of the invention provide for the forming means to be a stamping press, for the forming tools to be corresponding punches and cavities, and for the assembled hollow metallic article to have at least one aperture communicating with the interior thereof.
There is also provided for the design facility to predict the performance of the designed forming tools to optimize the design of the forming tools as a function of at least the characteristics of the metal to be formed and boundary and load conditions to be applied by the forming tools.
In accordance with a third aspect of the invention there is provided for the hollow metallic article to be a hollow jewellery piece, for the at least one aperture in the shell of the hollow jewellery piece to be sized to receive a gemstone therein, for the rapid-prototyping facility to produce a three-dimensional pattern of the hollow metallic article from the CAD model by any one of the techniques of stereo lithography, fused deposition modelling, laminated object manufacturing, selective laser sintering, ink jet or other rapid prototyping techniques.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a system for the manufacture of hollow metallic articles, according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a functional representation of a first embodiment of a rapid prototyping facility and a production facility of the system of Figure 1 ; and
FIG. 3 is a functional representation of a second embodiment of a rapid prototyping facility and a production facility of the system of Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, in which like features of the invention are indicated by like numerals, a system for manufacturing hollow jewellery is indicated generally by reference numeral (1).
The system (1) includes a rapid prototyping facility (2) and a production facility (3) which, in turn, includes a CAD processor (7) and a Stereo Lithography (SL) machine (8).
The rapid prototyping facility (2) and its operation is well known in the art but will be described here for completeness. The CAD processor (7) is operable to produce data relating to a three-dimensional model of an item of hollow jewellery which is to be manufactured. The three-dimensional CAD model is converted through a translation facility (not shown) into a file format which can be recognised by the SL machine (8). An example of such a file format is the well known .STL format developed by the Albert Consulting Group.
The .STL file consists of sets of x, y and z co-ordinates, each set representing a triangular facet on the surface of the three-dimensional CAD model.
The three-dimensional CAD model is "sliced" into layers by "slice" software (9) to produce program steps which guide the SL machine (8) in producing a three-dimensional pattern (11) of the hollow jewellery piece.
The SL Machine (8) has a laser which generates an ultraviolet beam, and a vat equipped with an elevator table. The vat is filled with a photopolymerisable liquid resin. With the elevator table set just below the surface of the liquid resin in the vat, the laser is directed over the surface of the resin to solidify a two-dimensional cross-section on the surface of the photopolymer corresponding to the first
"slice" of the three-dimensional CAD model. The elevator table is then dropped sufficiently to cover the solid polymer with another layer of liquid resin and the laser then solidifies the next "slice" of the model. In this manner, a three-dimensional pattern (11) of the hollow jewellery piece is built from the bottom slice up. The three-dimensional pattern (11) thus produced can be solid, but it is known for the interior of the pattern to be formed as a lattice in order to decrease the weight of the pattern and to minimise the consumption of photopolymerisable liquid resin in the production of the pattern. Turning now to Figure 2, the production facility (3) includes an electroforming bath (10), which is well known in the art.
The three-dimensional pattern (11) is then metallized in a metallizing means (not shown) by spraying it with a conductive spray, and the metallized three-dimensional pattern is then secured to a support structure (12) also known as a "tree" and immersed in the electroforming bath (10) which is filled with a solution of gold potassium cyanide. An electrical supply voltage V is then applied between the tree (12) and a cathode (13) immersed in the solution in the electroforming bath, causing gold to be deposited on the surface of the metallized three-dimensional pattern (11) to form a shell of the hollow jewellery piece. The electrodeposition is continued until a sufficiently thick layer of gold has been deposited on the surface of the three-dimensional pattern (11) to suit the requirements of a particular application.
When the electrodeposition process is complete, the coated three-dimensional pattern (11) is removed from the electroforming bath (10) and detached from the tree (12).
The solidified photopolymer in the interior of the coated three-dimensional pattern may be left in place or removed. Removal of the photopolymer is attained by heating the coated pattern to cause the solidified photopolymer in the interior of the electrodeposited gold layer to be converted to gas and ash. The gas and ash may be removed through a hole drilled into the hollow jewellery piece. Alternatively, the hole may be created by not metallizing a small portion of the three-dimensional pattern (11), thereby preventing electrodeposition from occurring on the non-metallized portion to create an aperture on the shell during the electrodeposition process, for the removal of the gas and ash.
The final step in the production process is a finishing operation in which the hole in the hollow jewellery piece is closed off by hand, if required.
It will be appreciated that multiple apertures can be created in the hollow jewellery piece by not metallizing an equal number of portions on the three-dimensional pattern (11) to prevent electrodeposition from occurring on these non-metallized portions. It is envisaged that in certain applications, comminution of the three-dimensional pattern by heating will not be feasible as the required temperature will be close to, or will exceed, the melting point of the electrodeposited metal. In such instances, the three-dimensional pattern may be comminuted by exposure to ultrasonic frequencies, or may be dissolved by acid leaching.
Further, the three-dimensional pattern can be rapid-prototyped by the techniques of Fused Deposition Modelling, Laminated Object Manufacturing, Selective Laser Sintering, or other rapid prototyping systems as alternatives to Stereo Lithography.
In the embodiment of Figure 3, the production facility includes an electroforming bath (3), an investment casting facility (14), a flash fire furnace (15) and a laser welding system (17).
The CAD processor (7) produces data relating to the three-dimensional model of the item of hollow jewellery which is to be produced and derives therefrom three-dimensional CAD models of sets of matching cavities and punches for stamping out component parts of the hollow jewellery item. It will be appreciated that the number of component parts of the hollow jewellery item is dependent on the complexity of its design.
The CAD processor (7) also performs an analysis of the matching cavities and punches to predict their theoretical performance. The predicted performance of the matching cavities and punches is a function of the characteristics of the metal to be stamped, as well as the boundary and load conditions to be applied to the cavities and punches. The design of the matching cavities and punches is then optimised to eliminate any faults indicated by the performance analysis.
Patterns of the matching punches and cavities are produced by the SL machine
(8) as described above.
The patterns of the matching punches and cavities are attached to a tree and "shelled up" in the investment casting facility (14) in which a shell of ceramic refractory material is deposited around the patterns to produce ceramic moulds of the punches and cavities. This process of investment casting is well known in the art and will not be described here in detail. The patterns of the matching punches and cavities are removed from the ceramic moulds in a manner analogous to that described in the embodiment of Figure 2, by heating the investment cast moulds in the flash fire furnace. The gas and ash arising from the heating of the photopolymer of the patterns are removed via a funnel on each ceramic mould.
The ceramic moulds are then preheated and molten metal is cast therein to produce castings of the matching punches and cavities. The ceramic shells are then removed from the castings, which are finished off by a fettling operation to remove any gates and runners which may be present.
*
The matching punches and cavities are then employed in a stamping machine to stamp the component parts of the hollow jewellery piece to be produced.
The stamped component parts are placed in a jig to hold the parts together in the correct configuration to form the item of hollow jewellery. The jig is them brought into position under the laser of the laser welding system. Data is downloaded from the CAD processor (7) to the laser welding system relating to the surface topography of the three-dimensional model of the item of hollow jewellery. This data is applied to control the position and orientation of the jig to enable the laser to weld together the component parts of the hollow jewellery item.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the integration of the rapid prototyping facility (2) and the production facility (3) enables a new design for a hollow jewellery item to be brought to market in a shorter time than is possible with prior art manufacturing methods.
The embodiment of Figure 2 is preferred for the manufacture of single jewellery pieces or applications in which low production runs are required, whilst the system described with reference to Figure 3 is preferred for high-volume jewellery production runs due to the additional steps required to produced matching punches and cavities for stamping the component parts of a jewellery piece.
Although the invention has been described with reference to the manufacture of hollow jewellery pieces, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is applicable to the manufacture of other hollow metallic articles. The invention therefore provides a system and a method for manufacturing hollow metallic articles, such as hollow jewellery pieces, which reduces the number of design steps and iterations employed in prior art equivalents, and which facilitates the mass-customization of hollow jewellery pieces.

Claims

1. A method for the manufacture of a hollow metallic article which includes the step of rapid-prototyping at least one three-dimensional pattern derived from a Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) model of the hollow metallic article to be manufactured.
2. A method according to claim 1 which includes the steps of: rapid-prototyping a three-dimensional pattern of the entire hollow metallic article from the CAD model; metallizing at least a portion of the surface of the three-dimensional pattern; and electrodepositing a layer of metal on the surface of the three-dimensional pattern to form the shell of the hollow metallic article, the shell being discontinuous over any non-metallized portion of the pattern to form an aperture in the shell.
3. A method according to claim 2 in which a plurality of separate portions of the surface of the three-dimensional pattern are not metallized and the layer of metal is electrodeposited thereon to form the shell of the hollow metallic article having a plurality of several apertures in the shell, each aperture corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of separate non-metallized portions of the surface of the pattern.
4. A method according to claim 2 in which the entire surface of the three-dimensional pattern is metallized and the layer of metal is electrodeposited thereon to form a closed shell.
5. A method according to any one of claims 2 to 4 which includes the further step of removing the three-dimensional pattern from the shell of the hollow metallic article.
A method according to claim 5 in which the three-dimensional pattern is removed by acid leaching.
7. A method according to claim 5 in which the three-dimensional pattern is removed by the steps of comminuting the pattern into a particulate form, and emptying the particulate matter through the aperture in the shell of the hollow jewellery article.
8. A method according to claim 7 in which the particulate matter is emptied through a hole drilled into the shell of a closed hollow metallic article.
9. A method according to either one of claims 7 or 8 in which the three-dimensional pattern is comminuted to a particulate form by any one or more of heating the pattern, or subjecting it to ultrasonic frequencies.
10. A method according to claim 1 which includes the steps of: deriving, from the CAD model, a number of component parts from which the hollow metallic article is to be assembled; designing forming tools for forming each of the component parts and generating CAD models of the forming tools; rapid-prototyping three-dimensional patterns of the forming tools from the
CAD models thereof; producing moulds of the forming tools from the three-dimensional patterns thereof, and casting the forming tools from the moulds; forming the component parts of the hollow metallic article by utilising the forming tools; and assembling the formed component parts together to form the shell of the hollow metallic article.
11. A method according to claim 10 in which the moulds of the forming tools are produced by the steps of: investment-casting a shell of ceramic material around the three-dimensional patterns of the forming tools; and removing the three-dimensional patterns from the investment-cast ceramic shells, and for removing the three-dimensional patterns from the investment-cast ceramic shells by; comminuting the patterns to a particulate form; and emptying the particulate matter through an aperture in each of the investment-cast ceramic shells.
12. A method according to claims in which the forming tools are cast by the steps of: pre-heating the investment-cast ceramic moulds; casting molten metal therein; removing the ceramic moulds from the castings; and fettling the castings.
13. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 12 in which the formed component parts are assembled together to form the shell of the hollow metallic article, by the steps of: placing the formed component parts in a jig; and welding the interfaces between the component parts, for welding the interfaces between the component parts by means of a multi-axis laser welding system, and for controlling the position and orientation of the jig relative to the welding laser by means of data derived from the CAD model of the hollow metallic article.
14. A method as according to any one of claims 10 to 13 in which the component parts of the hollow metallic article are formed by stamping.
15. A method according to claim 14 in which the component parts are formed by stamping with corresponding punches and cavities.
16. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 15 in which the hollow metallic article is assembled to have at least one aperture communicating with the interior thereof.
17. A method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 16 which includes the further step of predicting the forming tool performance.
18. A method according to claim 17 in which the forming tool performance is predicted as a function of at least the characteristics of the metal to be formed and boundary and load conditions to be applied by the forming tools.
19. A method according to claim 18 which includes the still further step of optimising the design of the forming tools to eliminate faults in the forming tools.
20. A method according to any one of the preceding claims in which the hollow metallic article is a hollow jewellery piece.
21. A method according to claim 20 in which the at least one aperture in the shell of the hollow jewellery piece is sized to receive a gemstone therein.
22. A method according to any one of the preceding claims in which a three-dimensional pattern is rapid-prototyped from the CAD model thereof by any one of the techniques of stereo lithography, fused deposition modelling, laminated object manufacturing, selective laser sintering, or other rapid prototyping techniques.
23. A system for the manufacture of hollow metallic articles, which includes: means for producing a CAD model of the hollow metal article to be manufactured; and a rapid-prototyping facility arranged to produce at least one three-dimensional pattern derived from the CAD model.
24. A system according to claim 23 which includes: metallizing means for metallizing at least a portion of the surface of the three-dimensional pattern; and an electrodeposition facility for electrodepositing a layer of metal on the surface of the three-dimensional pattern to form the shell of the hollow metallic article, the shell being discontinuous over any non-metallized portion of the pattern to form an aperture in the shell.
25. A system according to claim 24 in which a plurality of separate portions of the surface of the three-dimensional pattern are not metallized and the electrodeposition facility electrodeposits the layer of metal on the pattern to form the shell of the hollow metallic article having a plurality of separate apertures in the shell, each aperture corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of separate non-metallized portions on the surface of the pattern.
26. A system according to claim 23 in which the entire surface of the three-dimensional pattern is metallized and the electrodeposition facility electrodeposits the layer of metal to form a closed shell.
27. A system according to any one of claims 24 to 26 which includes a removal facility for removing the three-dimensional pattern from the shell of the hollow metallic article.
28. A system according to claim 27 in which the removal facility includes means for acid-leaching the three-dimensional pattern.
29. A system according to claim 27 in which the removal facility includes means for comminuting the pattern to a particulate form.
30. A system according to claim 29 in which the particulate matter is dischargeable through the at least one aperture in the shell of the hollow metallic article.
31. A system according to claim 29 in which the particulate matter is dischargeable through a hole drilled into the shell of the closed hollow metallic article.
32. A system according to claim 29 in which the means for comminuting the pattern is a heating furnace or an ultrasonic frequency generator.
33. A system according to claim 23 which includes: a design facility arranged to derive from the CAD model of the hollow metallic article, a number of component parts from which the hollow metallic article is to be assembled, to design forming tools for forming each of the component parts and to generate CAD models of the forming tools; mould production means for producing moulds of the forming tools from three-dimensional patterns thereof and for casting the forming tools from the moulds, the three-dimensional patterns of the moulds being produced by the rapid-prototyping facility from the CAD models thereof; forming means for forming the component parts of the hollow metallic article by utilising the forming tools; and an assembly facility for assembling the formed component parts together to produce the hollow jewellery piece.
34. A system according to claim 33 in which the mould production means includes an investment casting facility for investment-casting a shell of ceramic material around the three-dimensional patterns of the forming tools.
35. A system according to claim 34 which includes a removal facility for removing the three-dimensional patterns from the investment-cast ceramic shells.
36. A system according to claim 35 in which the removal facility includes means for comminuting the three-dimensional patterns to a particulate form.
37. A system according to claim 36 in which the particulate matter is dischargeable through an aperture in each of the investment-cast ceramic shells.
38. A system according to any one of claims 33 to 37 in which the assembly facility includes a jig for holding the formed component parts together in a correct configuration to form the hollow metallic article, and a multi-axis laser welding system for welding the interfaces between the formed component parts in the jig.
39. A system according to claim 38 in which the position and orientation of the jig relative to the welding laser is controlled by means of data derived from the CAD model of the hollow metallic article.
40. A system according to any one of claims 33 to 39 in which the forming means is a stamping press.
41. A system according to claim 40 in which the forming tools are corresponding punches and cavities.
42. A system according to any one of claims 33 to 41 in which the assembled hollow metallic article has at least one aperture communicating with the interior thereof.
43. A system as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 42 in which the design facility predicts the performance of the designed forming tools as a function of at least the characteristics of the metal to be formed and boundary and load conditions to be applied by the forming tools.
44. A system according to claim 43 in which the design facility optimizes the design of the forming tools.
45. A system according to any one of claims 23 to 44 in which the hollow metallic article is a hollow jewellery piece.
46. A system according to claim 45 in which the at least one aperture in the shell of the hollow jewellery piece is sized to receive a gemstone therein.
47. A system according to any one of claims 23 to 46 in which the rapid-prototyping facility produces a three-dimensional pattern derived from the CAD model by any one of the techniques of stereo lithography, fused deposition modelling, laminated object manufacturing, selective laser sintering or other rapid prototyping techniques.
48. A method for the manufacture of a hollow metallic article, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
49. A system for the manufacture of a hollow metallic article, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, or Figures 1 and 3.
PCT/ZA2000/000050 1999-03-19 2000-03-20 Manufacture of hollow metallic articles WO2000057253A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU37757/00A AU3775700A (en) 1999-03-19 2000-03-20 Manufacture of hollow metallic articles

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA99/2209 1999-03-19
ZA992209 1999-03-19

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000057253A1 true WO2000057253A1 (en) 2000-09-28

Family

ID=25587633

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/ZA2000/000050 WO2000057253A1 (en) 1999-03-19 2000-03-20 Manufacture of hollow metallic articles
PCT/ZA2000/000049 WO2000057254A1 (en) 1999-03-19 2000-03-20 Customisation of jewellery

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/ZA2000/000049 WO2000057254A1 (en) 1999-03-19 2000-03-20 Customisation of jewellery

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (2) AU3775600A (en)
WO (2) WO2000057253A1 (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002073324A2 (en) * 2001-03-14 2002-09-19 Milling Systems And Concepts Pte. Ltd. A prototype production system and method
GB2380961A (en) * 2001-10-06 2003-04-23 Carl George Winn Method of manufacturing jewellery
US6627835B1 (en) 2000-02-02 2003-09-30 Purdue Research Foundation Three dimensional object fabrication techniques
US8905739B2 (en) 2008-12-22 2014-12-09 Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno Method and apparatus for layerwise production of a 3D object

Families Citing this family (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6985876B1 (en) * 2000-02-07 2006-01-10 National Instruments Corporation System and method for enabling a user of an E-commerce system to visually view and/or configure a product for purchase
WO2001093156A1 (en) * 2000-05-26 2001-12-06 Steven Bradley Pollack System and method for designing custom jewelry
US7013232B2 (en) 2001-08-15 2006-03-14 National Insurance Corporation Network-based system for configuring a measurement system using configuration information generated based on a user specification
US7069108B2 (en) 2002-12-10 2006-06-27 Jostens, Inc. Automated engraving of a customized jewelry item
WO2005101326A1 (en) * 2004-04-19 2005-10-27 Jostens, Inc. System and method for smoothing three-dimensional images
WO2008089441A1 (en) 2007-01-18 2008-07-24 Jostens, Inc. System and method for generating instructions for customization
WO2008112796A1 (en) 2007-03-12 2008-09-18 Jostens, Inc. Method for embellishment placement
US8977377B2 (en) 2010-02-25 2015-03-10 Jostens, Inc. Method for digital manufacturing of jewelry items
US9524523B2 (en) * 2010-09-01 2016-12-20 Vigor Systems Inc. Fail-safe switch for media insertion server in a broadcast stream
US11227330B2 (en) 2010-09-03 2022-01-18 Lee Martin Stewart Determining a part having an anomaly in equipment and initiating an electronic transaction for replacing the part using a three-dimensional (3D) model of the equipment
US9208265B2 (en) 2011-12-02 2015-12-08 Jostens, Inc. System and method for jewelry design
US9582615B2 (en) 2013-01-16 2017-02-28 Jostens, Inc. Modeling using thin plate spline technology
USD789228S1 (en) 2013-11-25 2017-06-13 Jostens, Inc. Bezel for a ring

Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3686734A (en) * 1970-06-29 1972-08-29 Maurice Labarte Method of manufacturing jewels of gold or platinum or their alloys
US4001069A (en) * 1974-10-21 1977-01-04 Dynell Electronics Corporation Arrangement for generating and constructing three-dimensional surfaces and bodies
US4282174A (en) * 1977-05-13 1981-08-04 Chase Barry J Method of making an article of bonded metal particles
US4681664A (en) * 1985-03-19 1987-07-21 Juwedor Gmbh Process for producing pieces of jewelry from precious metals and pieces of jewelry produced by it
GB2202728A (en) * 1987-03-25 1988-10-05 Acme Jewellery Ltd Earring
EP0554033A1 (en) * 1992-01-31 1993-08-04 Fritz B. Prinz Method for fabrication of three-dimensional articles
WO1995008416A1 (en) * 1993-09-20 1995-03-30 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Process for rapidly forming laminated dies and said dies
EP0655668A2 (en) * 1993-11-26 1995-05-31 Ford Motor Company Limited Rapidly making a contoured part
US5433280A (en) * 1994-03-16 1995-07-18 Baker Hughes Incorporated Fabrication method for rotary bits and bit components and bits and components produced thereby
GB2315452A (en) * 1996-07-22 1998-02-04 Smith International Manufacture of earth boring drill bits
US5718278A (en) * 1995-12-13 1998-02-17 Baum; Robert Method for producing hollow ring having inner round radius design
US5812402A (en) * 1995-11-02 1998-09-22 Fujitsu Limited Injection mold design system and injection mold design method

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4887208A (en) * 1987-12-18 1989-12-12 Schneider Bruce H Sales and inventory control system
SE470431B (en) * 1992-03-31 1994-02-21 Autoengraving Ab Device for fully automated engraving system
FR2739951A1 (en) * 1995-10-17 1997-04-18 Beck Serge Ordering and control appts. for industrial assembly process

Patent Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3686734A (en) * 1970-06-29 1972-08-29 Maurice Labarte Method of manufacturing jewels of gold or platinum or their alloys
US4001069A (en) * 1974-10-21 1977-01-04 Dynell Electronics Corporation Arrangement for generating and constructing three-dimensional surfaces and bodies
US4282174A (en) * 1977-05-13 1981-08-04 Chase Barry J Method of making an article of bonded metal particles
US4681664A (en) * 1985-03-19 1987-07-21 Juwedor Gmbh Process for producing pieces of jewelry from precious metals and pieces of jewelry produced by it
GB2202728A (en) * 1987-03-25 1988-10-05 Acme Jewellery Ltd Earring
EP0554033A1 (en) * 1992-01-31 1993-08-04 Fritz B. Prinz Method for fabrication of three-dimensional articles
WO1995008416A1 (en) * 1993-09-20 1995-03-30 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Process for rapidly forming laminated dies and said dies
EP0655668A2 (en) * 1993-11-26 1995-05-31 Ford Motor Company Limited Rapidly making a contoured part
US5433280A (en) * 1994-03-16 1995-07-18 Baker Hughes Incorporated Fabrication method for rotary bits and bit components and bits and components produced thereby
US5812402A (en) * 1995-11-02 1998-09-22 Fujitsu Limited Injection mold design system and injection mold design method
US5718278A (en) * 1995-12-13 1998-02-17 Baum; Robert Method for producing hollow ring having inner round radius design
GB2315452A (en) * 1996-07-22 1998-02-04 Smith International Manufacture of earth boring drill bits

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
XUE Y ET AL: "A review of rapid prototyping technologies and systems", COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN,GB,ELSEVIER PUBLISHERS BV., BARKING, vol. 28, no. 4, 1 April 1996 (1996-04-01), pages 307 - 318, XP004022719, ISSN: 0010-4485 *

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6627835B1 (en) 2000-02-02 2003-09-30 Purdue Research Foundation Three dimensional object fabrication techniques
WO2002073324A2 (en) * 2001-03-14 2002-09-19 Milling Systems And Concepts Pte. Ltd. A prototype production system and method
WO2002073324A3 (en) * 2001-03-14 2003-10-02 Milling Systems And Concepts P A prototype production system and method
GB2380961A (en) * 2001-10-06 2003-04-23 Carl George Winn Method of manufacturing jewellery
US8905739B2 (en) 2008-12-22 2014-12-09 Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno Method and apparatus for layerwise production of a 3D object

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU3775600A (en) 2000-10-09
AU3775700A (en) 2000-10-09
WO2000057254A1 (en) 2000-09-28

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
WO2000057253A1 (en) Manufacture of hollow metallic articles
US5518060A (en) Method of producing polymeric patterns for use in evaporable foam casting
Cheah et al. Rapid prototyping and tooling techniques: a review of applications for rapid investment casting
US5461769A (en) Method of manufacturing electrically conductive elements particularly EDM or ECM electrodes
JP6431939B2 (en) Casting using first metal part and second metal part
Sahebrao Ingole et al. Rapid prototyping–a technology transfer approach for development of rapid tooling
Pham et al. Rapid manufacturing: the technologies and applications of rapid prototyping and rapid tooling
EP3096900B1 (en) Method of additive manufacturing of a mold
CN106863770B (en) The production method of structural circuit unitary member based on fusion sediment forming technique
Kruth Material incress manufacturing by rapid prototyping techniques
EP1614488B1 (en) Casting method using a synthetic model produced by stereolithography
EP0728912A2 (en) Method of manufacturing a rotary drill bit
CN109202075A (en) The releasing layer and its application method of DMLM building
Dimov et al. Rapid tooling applications of the selective laser sintering process
EP3210694A1 (en) Casting with graded core components
Thomas et al. A review on transition in the manufacturing of mechanical components from conventional techniques to rapid casting using rapid prototyping
Zhao et al. Metal additive manufacturing
Kumar Additive Manufacturing Solutions
Kakde et al. Development of customized innovative product using fused deposition modeling technique of rapid prototyping and investment casting
JP2006523769A (en) Rapid prototyping process
US20240001435A1 (en) Method of making an inorganic reticulated foam structure
Beaman et al. Process methods
Weiss Processes overview
Keverian Rapid part manufacturing
Bocking et al. The use of electroforming for engineering tool production

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CR CU CZ DE DK DM EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VN YU ZA ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW SD SL SZ TZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase